Jazz-Heat Preview

Dwyane Wade carried the Miami Heat to a triple-overtime victory
over the Utah Jazz last season.

Going into the teams' first meeting of 2009-10, injuries seem to
be making it more difficult for Wade to be as effective as he
was in that contest.

The Heat look to win their seventh straight at home over the
Jazz when they close a six-game stretch at AmericanAirlines
Arena on Wednesday night.

Since drafting Wade in 2003, Miami (13-12) has yet to lose at
home to Utah. Other than a 38-point win in 2006, however, the
Heat's margins of victory in those games were small, with the
other five contests being decided by an average of fewer than
six points.

Wade has averaged 33.0 points in five home games against Utah.
He turned in a spectacular performance against the Jazz in a
140-129 triple-overtime home win March 14, scoring 50 points to
go along with 10 rebounds, nine assists, four steals and two
blocks.

Wade, though, has struggled with his shooting of late, possibly
due in part to a back problem that had him getting heat
treatment before a 102-95 loss to Portland on Sunday. The defeat
dropped Miami to 2-3 on its homestand.

Wade, also bothered by a sore right wrist, finished with 28
points and 10 assists, but went 13 of 31 from the field and
didn't have a rebound for the fourth time in his career. He was
0 for 5 during Portland's 18-2 run in the third quarter.

Wade shot below his season average of 43.2 percent in five of
the last eight games.

"We had our opportunities," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "They had
their chances and they capitalized on them when it counted most.
And it's a shame, too, because we played well enough offensively
across the board, moving the ball, shot a good percentage ...
for us to come up short, it's a little bit frustrating."

The Jazz split the first four contests and are coming off a
104-99 loss to Orlando on Monday. The Magic went on a 15-2 run
in the fourth quarter to take control as Utah faded in its
fourth game in six days.

Deron Williams had 18 points and 12 assists, but shot 6 of 16.
Paul Millsap led the Jazz with 20 points.